File cabinet and shipping case



y 5, 1931. T; H. SEAY 1,803,919

FILE CABINET AND SHIPPING CASE Filed Deb. 1o 192s ZSheets-Sheet 1 awe/who:

May 5, 1931. T. H. SEAY FILE CABINET AND SHIPPINGCASE Filed Dec. 10. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS HARDIE SEAY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF'C'OLUMBIA FILE CABINET AND SHIPPING CASE Application filed December 10, 1928. Serial No. 325,074.

Generically this invention relates to containers, but it is more especially directed to a type adaptable as a file cabinet and as a shipping case.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a combination file cabinet and shipping case comprising'a hinged side, initially adaptable as a file cabinet and when containing the requisite files adaptable as a shipping case, said container comprising means for expeditiously securing the filed contents and preventing multilation or disarrangement thereof during course of shiping.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a container having a movable side, one side of said container having means adapted to adjustably receive one edge of a plate and similar means carried by the movable side adapted to adjustably engage the opposite edge of the plate when the side is brought to operative position to firmlylock and maintain said plate in pressing contact with the files to prevent their disarrangement during course of handling, irre spective of the quantity thereof, and means for expeditiously securing the top to the container, said securing means at the same time constituting a handle for said container. I

IVith these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container in open position in-readiness to receive the files or other contents; v

Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1 when the device is being employed as a shipping case;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the top showing tag holder Fig. at is a cross section of the top and tag 7 I holder Fig. 5 is a cross section of one of the anchoring means.

' Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

While I am aware that there are various types of containers, shipping crates and the like, insofar as I am aware they are not susceptible of expeditious use as both a filing cabinet and shipping case, especially in con-- nection with the handling of interline ac counts between the various'railroad systems. During each month account sheets with allied systems are built up and at the end of each month it is necessary to forward such files to the various railway accounting offices, and at the present time, it is prevalent to fold and tie these files in bundles for shipment during the course of which they become mutilated, disarranged and by reason of hav ing been folded difficult to properly handle, requiring great labor and expense to. arrange for final audit; and it was to overcome the inherent disadvantages of such a system and to provide a container utilizable throughout a given period as a file cabinet and thereafter without additional handling of the file contents, as a shipping case, and comprising an adjustable means for expeditiously securing and maintaining the said files in their original shape and arrangement, irrespective of the side 5 is hinged along its lower edge to bottom 1 by a piano hinge or in any well known manner for a purpose hereinafter more fully understood.

Suitablysecured by spot welding or otherwise as at 6 to the inner surface of side 4 spaced from each end is an anchor member B formed with flanges 7 and ridge portion 8 formed with a plurality of spaced transverse slots 9 throughout its length, such slots movable side 5, the slots of the respective members adapted to aligniwhen the side 5 is in an upright or contacting position with the ends 2 and 3, for a purpose hereinafter more fully apparent.

The container is provided with a movable closure or top 11 formed with a flange 12, the lower edge ofsaidfiangepbeingwfolded inwardly upon itself as at 13 to form a thickened edge, ,,.saidi flange, adapted to overlie the sides and end portions. Spot welded or otherwise suitably secured tothe outer surface of end 2 adjacent its upperedge as at 14: is plate 15 hingedly. supporting a loop memberv 16, and suitably secured to thefree end .016 said loop is strap 17 in the present instance, providedwith buckle 18'and similar members 15 and 16are correspondingly positioned and secured to the outer surface of end 3 carrying strap member 19 adapted to engage buckle 18 when the top 11 has been operati vely positioned over thecontainer to .-secure said topand to'provide a handle by :means of which the container may be trans- .ported during course of handling.

Iii-order to .further strengthen the containerwhen being used'as a shipping case the side 5 is providedadjacent.each of its outer corners with a .lip projection 20 for engagement with therinnerqsurfaces of the w respective end portions 2; and 3 to'provide a" bracing means therefor.

\Vhen the vfiles have been .-suitably posi-- tioned in the containerand it is desired to secure them against movement board or plate 22 preferably formed of-fiber or other suit-ablematerial is adapted to be inserted in slots 9 of members B secured to I the side 4 slightly below. the normal surface of tthe file contents, the free edge being pressed downwardly and inserted in the corresponding aligned slots in the members B of, --s1de 5 as they. are brought into engagement with the free edge of said board, so that when said side reaches a vertical position the board will be firmly located in pressing-cont act with the file contents not only preventing any diswarrangement thereof but insuring their delivery atpoint of destination in their original -condition,ia"ndwhile the,- container may be constructed of any. desired material I have preferably? shown. it as constructed from --sheet'.metal andso v(constructed as to with- 1 stand: Lang. and continued hardusage.

during handling of said conta1ner,one edge of a 24 suitably secured to the under surface of the top surrounding said opening with one end open, and suitable secured to the bottom of said holder member 24 as at 25 is a leaf spring 26 having a catch portion 27 adapted to extend across said open end of the holder member and contact the under surface of the top to retain therein a detachable tag of conventional design bearing the desired address, the said opening 23 being suitably closed by a glass or-other transparent-- element not shown.

From the'above it is apparent that I have designed a combination device of great utility and adaptability, capable of efiecting a great saving intime and labor aswell as protection to the-files by constituting in the first instance an efficient-file cabinet,-and in the second, a shipping case for such files without the necessity of their rearrangement or additional handling and preserving them in their original condition, thereby not only preserving the files themselves but eliminating a number of handling operations intermediate the lines of origin and. those'of final destination, yet one simple. in construction, manufacturable at a negligible cost, susceptible of repeated and continued hard usage and efficient for the purposes intended.

While my invention is peculiarly adapt.- able for the shipment oftheinterline accounts between various railroads it is equally as adaptable to other uses, as will beapparent without further explanation.

Although inpractice I have found that the .form of my invention illustrated. in the ac- :vary, I desire to emphasize that .various minor changes in details. of construction, proportion and arrangementof parts, may be resorted. to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificingany of the principles of this invention.

- Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the. following claims:

1; A container constituting a combination file cabinet and. shipping case, comprising a movable side, a pair of slotted ridge members secured to said movable side, and a pair to the opposite side, acompression plate selectively engageable with certain slots of onepair and with corresponding slots of thezpair on the movablemember when the :same is in closed have been locked against displacementeand' the closure secured therein, the same constitutes a complete shipping cabinet with an address tag secured therein.

2. A container constituting a combination file cabinet and shipping case, comprising a hinged side, lip projections formed on said side adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the respective sides of the container to brace the same, a pair of spaced vertical ridge members secured to said hinged side and a pair to the opposite side, each of said members being formed with a plurality of transverse slots, a compression plate selectively engageable with corresponding slots of said pairs, when said hinged side is in closed position, a removable closure for said container having a cut out portion, a tag holding means underlying said opening, a spring catch carried by the holding means and coacting with said closure, and means carried by the container for securing the closure thereto and constituting a handle, whereby the container successively constitutes a file cabinet and shipping case, with its contents and address tag, respectively, secured against displacement.

THOMAS HARDIE SEAY. 

